The Town (Al-Balad)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
۞ I CALL THIS earth to witness -- 1 this land in which thou art free to dwell 2 and by parent and offspring, 3 We verily have created man in an atmosphere: 4 Thinks he that none can overcome him? 5 And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth: 6 Does he think that none has observed him? 7 Have We not made for him two eyes 8 and a tongue, and a pair of lips, 9 And showed him two highways (of good and evil)? 10 Yet he has not scaled the height. 11 How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? -- 12 (It is) the setting free of a slave, 13 or giving food upon a day of hunger 14 to an orphan near of kin; 15 Or some poor wretch in misery, 16 then that he become of those who believe and counsel each other to be steadfast, and counsel each other to be merciful. 17 These are the people of the right hand. 18 and [as for] those who are bent on denying the truth of Our revelations, they are the people of the left hand, 19 On them is fire closed over. 20